Last updated October 2026
Ōmanawa is a rural locality south-west of Tauranga city centre, set along the Ōmanawa River valley and Ōmanawa Road in the Western Bay of Plenty. It sits in the rohe of Ngāti Hangarau and is known for its bush-clad hills, lifestyle blocks and the restored public access to Te Rere o Ōmanawa (Ōmanawa Falls).
Visitors and residents reach it easily from State Highway 29, with nearby McLaren Falls adding to the outdoor appeal. The area blends quiet rural living with significant cultural and heritage sites, including New Zealand’s first underground hydro power station. It forms part of the wider southern Tauranga and Western Bay community cluster that includes Pyes Pā and Tauriko.
Official Locality Facts
- Population (2023 Census)
- About 2,300, up 3% since 2018
- Land area
- 99.18 km²
- Location
- 18.4 km south-west of central Tauranga
- Council
- Western Bay of Plenty District Council
- Neighbouring suburbs
- Lower Kaimai, Pyes Pa, Oropi, Ngawaro, Tauriko
- Ward or local board
- Kaimai Ward (Western Bay of Plenty District); community links with Tauranga City southern areas
- Getting there
- Main access via Ōmanawa Road off State Highway 29 (from Tauranga turn left onto Ōmanawa Road); also via McLaren Falls Road. Rural roads; private vehicle primary. No dedicated urban bus terminus in the locality.
- Main shopping
- Limited local retail; nearest centres at Pyes Pā, Tauriko and central Tauranga
- Schools
- Nearby: Pyes Pā Road School (full primary), Kaimai School (full primary); secondary options include Tauranga Boys’ College and Tauranga Girls’ College (zoned for some addresses)
- Nearby landmarks
- Te Rere o Ōmanawa (Ōmanawa Falls), Ōmanawa Falls Power Station, McLaren Falls, Omanawa Hall
Who Lives in Omanawa
About 2,300 residents in 760 households. From the 2023 Census, with the New Zealand figure alongside for comparison.
In Omanawa
Places and businesses inside the official Omanawa boundary.
Places
Businesses
About Ōmanawa
Ōmanawa occupies a scenic valley on the northern edge of the Mamaku Plateau country, where the Ōmanawa River flows north toward its confluence with the Wairoa River. The landscape mixes farmland, lifestyle properties, regenerating bush and steep gorge sections.
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage translates Ōmanawa as “place of Manawa”. The falls themselves are known as Te Rere o Ōmanawa, rendered as “the waterfall of the heart”, and hold deep significance for Ngāti Hangarau as a place of āio (insight and reflection) and rongoā (healing).
The whenua lies within Ngāti Hangarau rohe and was affected by nineteenth-century raupatu confiscations. Today the locality remains predominantly rural, with properties along Ōmanawa Road, Belk Road, McLaren Falls Road and connecting lanes.
Tauranga City Council manages the public reserve at the falls in partnership with hapū, while much of the surrounding land falls under Western Bay of Plenty District administration. The area is often grouped with Pyes Pā, Tauriko and The Lakes in council community reporting.
A defining feature is the 35-metre Ōmanawa Falls, where the river drops into a large pool after passing through a narrow gorge. Adjacent sits the historic Ōmanawa Falls Power Station, commissioned in 1915 as the first underground hydro-electric generating station in New Zealand and the Southern Hemisphere.
Water is diverted around the falls to drive the station. The power station is a Category 2 historic place listed by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.
Public access to the falls reserve was upgraded with cliff reinforcement, walking tracks, more than 750 stairs and three lookout platforms.
The site now offers panoramic views of the falls and valley, information panels on cultural significance and power-station history, a carved tomokanga and pou, plus ecological walking loops. It is open daily within set hours and emphasises respect for the sacred character of the place: swimming, rock climbing and alcohol are prohibited, and only service dogs are permitted.
Getting Outdoors
Te Rere o Ōmanawa provides the main structured outdoor experience. From the car park an immersive ngahere walkway leads to lookouts; the section between Wairere Tapu Lookout and Te Harikoa Lookout includes several hundred stairs and requires moderate to high fitness.
Two ecological loops branch from the main track. Opening hours are 8 am to 7.30 pm in summer (daylight saving) and 8 am to 5.30 pm in winter. Address: 1031 Ōmanawa Road.
McLaren Falls lies a short drive away via McLaren Falls Road and offers complementary walking and picnic opportunities beside the Wairoa River system. The wider valley and nearby TECT All Terrain Park (further south on State Highway 36) expand options for bush walks and outdoor recreation, though the immediate Ōmanawa setting remains quieter and more reflective.
History and Heritage
The Ōmanawa Falls Power Station was built for the Tauranga Borough Council and officially completed in 1915, with street lighting in Tauranga following soon after. It was enlarged in 1921.
Designed with an excavated rock cavern and tunnels, it marked an early provincial municipal hydro scheme and is linked to engineer Lloyd Mandeno’s work. Ownership later transferred under energy reforms, and the station has continued generating after upgrades. Heritage New Zealand lists it for its technological and historical importance as an early underground station.
The falls reserve reopened to the public after safety works that included hundreds of rock bolts and soil nails. Governance involved Tauranga City Council, Ngāti Hangarau and Tourism Bay of Plenty. Interpretation now highlights both the engineering story and the enduring cultural values of the site for hapū.
Community Facilities
Omanawa Hall at 560 Ōmanawa Road is maintained by local volunteers (Omanawa Hall Incorporated Society) for community gatherings and events. It serves as a practical hub for residents of the scattered rural properties. Everyday services and larger retail are found in neighbouring Pyes Pā, Tauriko or central Tauranga rather than within Ōmanawa itself.
Near Omanawa
Just outside Omanawa, within 10 km of its centre, nearest first.
Places
Where to Learn More
Tauranga City Council – Te Rere o Ōmanawa: Official visitor information, access directions, opening hours, cultural guidelines and site features.
Heritage New Zealand – Omanawa Falls Power Station: Listing details and historical significance of the Category 2 underground hydro station.
Wikipedia – Omanawa River: Overview of the river geography, falls and name translation citing Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ōmanawa in relation to Tauranga?
Ōmanawa is a rural locality south-west of central Tauranga, reached via State Highway 29 and Ōmanawa Road. It lies near Pyes Pā, McLaren Falls and Tauriko in the Western Bay of Plenty.
How do I get to Te Rere o Ōmanawa (Ōmanawa Falls)?
Drive to 1031 Ōmanawa Road. From Tauranga turn left off State Highway 29 onto Ōmanawa Road; the falls are about a 10-minute drive after the turn-off. From McLaren Falls continue to the end of McLaren Falls Road, turn left onto Ōmanawa Road (about two minutes).
Is swimming allowed at Ōmanawa Falls?
No. Swimming is prohibited. The site is a sacred place of reflection and healing for Ngāti Hangarau; visitors are asked to respect cultural guidelines. Rock climbing and alcohol are also not allowed; only service dogs are permitted.
What facilities are at the falls reserve?
Three lookout platforms, information panels, carved tomokanga and pou, an immersive forest walkway with stairs, and two ecological walking loops. Opening hours are 8 am–7.30 pm in summer and 8 am–5.30 pm in winter.
What does the name Ōmanawa mean?
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage translates Ōmanawa as “place of Manawa”. Te Rere o Ōmanawa is described as “the waterfall of the heart”.
Are there schools in Ōmanawa?
There is no school located inside the immediate locality. Nearby options include Pyes Pā Road School and Kaimai School (full primary). Secondary students commonly attend Tauranga Boys’ College or Tauranga Girls’ College depending on zoning.
Is Ōmanawa part of Tauranga City or Western Bay of Plenty District?
The wider locality and most rural properties fall under Western Bay of Plenty District (Kaimai Ward area). Tauranga City Council manages the Te Rere o Ōmanawa reserve and the area is often grouped with southern Tauranga communities such as Pyes Pā and Tauriko for community purposes.
What is special about the Ōmanawa Falls Power Station?
Opened in 1915, it was the first underground hydro-electric power station in New Zealand and the Southern Hemisphere. It is a Category 2 historic place and remains of heritage and engineering interest beside the falls.
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Explore Tauranga only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Omanawa is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.